Who is Catherine Zadeh

When Catherine M. Zadeh's husband asked her to design a ring for herself in 1988, he inadvertently launched her career. A friend noticed the unusually elegant, stackable rings on Catherine's finger and immediately commissioned her to create another piece. Further private commissions followed, and, for a time, Catherine exclusively designed women's jewelry, working hand in hand with her female clients to create custom pieces for them.

In 1995, A client requested that Catherine design several sets of unique cuff links. Steering away from classic designs, Catherine created brushed and satin finished shapes, both sharply geometric and softly abstract. Aware that the men's jewelry market did not offer much beyond the traditional, she conceptualized details that could be worn both formally and casually, accents with a modern edge that spoke of subtle masculine elegance and refined urban chic. In the months that followed, in her New York City apartment, Catherine M. Zadeh's first men's accessories collection was born. Her client was so pleased with the results that he encouraged her to present her men's accessories to department stores.

Catherine quickly realized that she had found both her passion and her niche. With no formal education in design, she trusted her own standards of beauty, honed in her youth. Born in Iran, schooled in Paris and settled with her family in New York, Catherine's inspirations were varied and deep. Drawing from art and architecture, nature and life, she taught herself to sketch her concepts and worked with master jewelry makers to see her ideas realized. By 1996, Catherine had developed the nerve to present to Bergdorf Goodman. Instantly recognizing Catherine's aesthetic as uniquely suited to their highly tasteful and urbane male clientele, they began to carry her designs.

Still featured at Bergdorf Goodman in New York and now available across the country in high-end specialty stores, Catherine's designs have been donned by celebrities and featured in publications including Departures, GQ, Town and Country, nominated "Best Of The Best Of 2006" by the Robb Report, and can now be seen in the film The Devil Wears Prada.

Catherine M. Zadeh is currently launching her Fence and Fiero collections and is in the process of designing a line of home décor. She has also designed women's precious jewelry including the celebrated Bubble collection, featured by Women's Wear Daily and W Jewelry in 2004.